A new prototype of Turkey’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet has begun pre-flight taxi tests, marking another step toward expanding the aircraft’s flight-test program, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) released footage on X showing the prototype, which had not yet received its final paint job, moving along a runway.

😉#KAAN pic.twitter.com/wWXXweP4af

— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) July 31, 2026

The aircraft was identified by the defense news outlet Clash Report as P1, one of two new prototypes being prepared for flight testing. The outlet reported that P1 had conducted powered taxi tests, meaning it moved under its own engine power.

Taxi tests allow engineers to assess systems including the engines, brakes, steering and flight controls while an aircraft moves on the ground before it is cleared to fly.

Clash Report said TAI aims to conduct P1’s maiden flight within the next few months and have both the P1 and P2 prototypes flying by the end of 2026. Initial deliveries to the Turkish Air Force are targeted for 2028.

The latest milestone comes after the administration of US President Donald Trump cleared the way for a proposed sale of US-made engines needed to power KAAN’s prototypes and early production aircraft.

The administration formally notified Congress on June 24 of its plan to sell Turkey more than $700 million in General Electric F110 engines and related support for the KAAN program.

Asked at the time about the engines, Turkey’s possible return to the F-35 program and his plans for the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said, “I’m going to probably do something that will make them very happy.”

The sale was able to proceed after a 15-day congressional review period expired July 9 without lawmakers passing legislation to block it.

The expiration of the review period does not constitute a final contract or authorize immediate delivery. US and Turkish officials, government agencies and the manufacturer must still finalize commercial terms, delivery schedules, testing and certification.

Some Democratic lawmakers opposed the proposed sale, citing Turkey’s continued possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, its policies toward Greece, Cyprus and Armenia and concerns about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.

TAI chief executive Mehmet Demiroğlu said later in July that the congressional review had cleared the export of 80 F110 engines for KAAN’s initial production phase.

Turkey already has 10 F110 engines for the prototypes, while TAI expects the first engines from the planned batch of 80 to arrive in 2027.

The F110, which is also used in variants of the F-15 and F-16, is critical to the KAAN program because Turkey’s domestically developed TF35000 engine is not yet available. Ankara plans to use the Turkish engine in later versions of KAAN and aims to integrate it into the aircraft by 2032.

The P1 and P2 prototypes have a more advanced systems architecture than the initial demonstrator, according to Anadolu. The first aircraft was built as a rapid prototype to begin flight testing, while the newer prototypes will be used in the project’s continuing test and development phase.

The first KAAN demonstrator completed its maiden flight in February 2024, remaining airborne for 13 minutes and reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots.

KAAN is a twin-engine, low-observable multirole fighter being developed by TAI to meet the Turkish Air Force’s future combat aircraft requirements and eventually replace part of its F-16 fleet.

The aircraft is designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and is expected to feature internal weapons bays, advanced avionics, sensor fusion and electronic warfare capabilities.

TAI lists a projected maximum speed of Mach 1.8, a service ceiling of 55,000 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 34,750 kilograms.

The program gained greater importance after the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 over Ankara’s acquisition of the S-400 system. Washington said operating the Russian system alongside the F-35 could compromise sensitive technology and later imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defense procurement agency.

The Turkish Air Force signed a contract in May for an initial batch of 20 KAAN aircraft.

Indonesia has also agreed to purchase 48 jets, becoming the program’s first foreign customer.